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Tango Revelations

September 19, 2017

Hello readers!
This post below is a re-share of an oldie but goodie, nonetheless I believe it is as relevant today as it was 4 years ago. And perhaps this message is even more important today when for many of us, our lives are quite turbulent. The joy of dance is not only comfort but quite necessary to keep our sanity. So, here’s to joy, connection, and the love to dance…

Why do you dance Tango?

We are all drawn to tango for different reasons. But one of the main reasons many of us dance Tango is for the deep connection and joy that transpires.

Last week, I had two private lessons. One with each of the world-famous Bay Area Tango instructors, Homer and Cristina Ladas. This was my first private lesson with either of them and my first private lesson in many years, so I was a little nervous and unsure of what to expect. What I learned is that these two are not only very kind and generous people, but have a depth of knowledge in Argentine Tango and are able to communicate this knowledge in a clear and concise manner. I can definitely see why their popularity has grown all over the world. During my private lessons, they both gave me exactly what I needed to improve. Having been dancing Tango for quite some time, I was aware that I had gotten into a comfort zone complete with bad habits and forgotten techniques. They both gave me specific tips that helped to make my dancing better for myself and my partner.

Even though all the information they gave me was important and useful, it was something Homer mentioned toward the end of our lesson that really resonated. He said that once I began to relax, (I really was quite nervous at the beginning of our lesson) he noticed that I began to dance with more energy and spirit and that it made all the difference.

This was my revelation:

SnoopyJoyDance

One can learn technique and figures until the end of time, but if you don’t dance with your full spirit, if you don’t give yourself fully to the dance, you will only be moving your body and not really dancing.

Don’t get me wrong, learning proper technique is very important, but there is a time and place for it. During a lesson, practicing at home or with your partner at the practicas, is when you should work on figures and technique. But when you get to the milonga, this is your opportunity to truly dance. One of the beautiful things about Tango is that the milonga is the designated place for the enjoyment of the dance. Milongas are where you hug and kiss friends, meet new ones, have a drink, a bite to eat, socialize, and of course dance. Let the practice time be for working on how to dance and let the milongas be where you let your creativity, energy, passion and emotions flow. When we are fully connected with the music and our partners, our bodies will naturally know what to do without our brains getting in the way.

I used to think the connection was only about the physical contact between two people; the embrace, our chests pressed together, our arms wrapped around each other and our heads lightly touching. And it is partially about that. But the connection is much more than physical. It’s the emotional and spiritual connection that transpires during that tanda that makes the dance truly amazing.

So, the next time you go out dancing, dance with your spirit, be fully present, and find your JOY.

Have you had a Tango revelation? Please share your revelations in the comments section below.Save

Filed Under: Learning Tango, Musings Tagged With: Argentine Tango, Bay Area Tango, Homer and Cristina, Milonga, private tango lesson, Tango dancing, Tango joy

Comments

  1. Homer Ladas says

    July 9, 2013 at 3:11 pm

    Thanks for this post Maika!!! You truly have a great spirit (in mind and body) and I look forward to more dances together, hugs, Homer 😉

  2. Kristin says

    July 10, 2013 at 7:24 am

    Wonderful! I find that when I cancel out all the noise around me and truly focus on my partner with all my physical, emotional and spiritual strength, and also RELAX, it makes dancing so much better and more beautiful!

  3. David Phillips says

    July 15, 2013 at 7:13 am

    I enjoyed watching Homer and Christina dancing at the milonga at Nora’s Tango Week the previous weekend. Their connection to the music and the dance and each other shines thru so clearly, playfully, emotionally.

    I find myself these days adding to my connections. With my partner – ¡Por supuesto! And the music and dance as well, and also with the ronda — my other partners, and with my mood and energy level at that time, and that of my partner.

    For me, after a lifetime of high-strung Type A personality, Argentine tango has been a blessing of learning patience and openness to all sorts of connections.
    –David

    • maika says

      July 15, 2013 at 7:20 am

      Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this, David.

  4. Anthony says

    July 20, 2013 at 4:01 am

    Hola! We will link this post under http://www.milonga.me! Thanks! Anthony y Pablo

    • maika says

      July 20, 2013 at 11:17 am

      Thank you! Milonga.me is a great site for Tango info around the world.

  5. Simoun Ybarra says

    July 23, 2013 at 11:43 am

    The “Tango Connection”

    If I may add to the definition of the “Connection” in Tango.

    Tango Master “Gabriel Misse” one of the best and strongest proponent and a self appointed crusader of the Culture and Practice of Tango Salon –whose primary aim is to teach and preserve it’s pure form outside of Argentina, explained connection:

    As the emotional kinship and mutual high (Tangasm?) developed in Tango dancing when both the Leader leading and the Follower performing the lead SATISFACTORILY — when both partners are Lovingly attuned, focused, and sensitive to each other’s footwork and body movement — in tune and as dictated or demanded by the music. These is archived, transmitted, and communicated through the chest and the right hand of the Leader to the back right side, midsection, spine, and or the left shoulder blade of the Follower — as required or dictated by the couple’s closeness or in between space.

    Also, as exhorted by DJ/Mentor Jay Abling:

    It is the Follower’s role to work on the connection by staying close, slightly offset, and squarely in front of her Leader at all times; and the Leader’s role to plan the routine and navigation in tune with the music. This is the unspoken contract between Tango Couple’s when they accept a dance invitation from each other.

Tango scenes in SF

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Celebrate #bayareatango community, support everyone involved & share ♥️ of #tango with San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

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Las Chicas del Tango @thetangodome Oakland, Califo Las Chicas del Tango
@thetangodome
Oakland, California
26 de agosto de 2023

Piano @sfsumi
Violín @basmaedreesviolin
Contrabajo @hannahmacgilv
Bandoneones @sinai_rim y @clarastern_bandoneon
Cello Vicky Ehrlich

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It's been a while since we do a spotlight on any t It's been a while since we do a spotlight on any teacher. But someone like @lucianavallel who has been a regular visiting teacher for over 20 years, we are very glad to welcome her back to San Francisco for the first time post-pandemic! (link in bio!👆)

Starting with pre-Milonga class this Thursday Aug 10 at @milongamalevaje, Friday Aug 11 at Milonga Genesis (hosted by @tangosabor) and two weekends of Intensive Tango Workshops at Monte Cristo Social Club (event link in bio👆)!
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Any time at @tangamente.sf is a great time to revi Any time at @tangamente.sf is a great time to review the social tango etiquette, a.k.a. The Rules of the Road, courtesy of @tangonnection & @ayano.yoneda.tango ♥️
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❤️‍🔥 @tango_with_winnie and @hugosatorre ❤️‍🔥 @tango_with_winnie and @hugosatorre continued their SF Tour with a weekend of Adventures in Tango Land at @tangodome !

They first blew us away with Saturday Tango Nightclub joining forces with The Dome's house band, Orquesta Tipica Domo, including a special guest artist Aude Bresson.👏 Then they kept the adventures going with a Sunday afternoon Live Music Practica for Dancers! 🎶❣️🎵🎹

If you miss out The Dome events completely, check out our stories for a few highlights!👆 Want to feel the magic of their music in person? Don't miss the rest of their SF tour!👇
~Tuesday 6/27 at El Valenciano (hosted by @tangosabor w/ Julian)
~Saturday 7/1 at @tangamente.sf (hosted by @tanguera_e and @jesram_sf)

☝️Links in bio!
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #specialevent #livemusic #tangomusic #contemporarytango #tangodancers #bailemostango
What a spectacular Music Celebration Day it was in What a spectacular Music Celebration Day it was in Berkeley! 🎶🎉 Hosted by @afberkeley and @ecolebilingue , an intercultural event with a one-time Milonga transported the attendees to the streets of Paris with "A Tango in Paris" Fête de la Musique. 🇦🇷🇫🇷

The event started with a conversation – part interview, part presentation – between @myriamdasilva_photo and @ayano.yoneda.tango (dancer, teacher, and co-founder of the Tango Poetry Project), who shared her insights on how immigration between Argentina and France has shaped the history of tango. 

As the evening progressed, we were treated to the live music by the Swiss Bandoneon player @fueyequerido and SF local pianist @sethasarnow . This may be their last appearance as a piano-bandoneón duo for quite a while as Adrian and his family are moving to Switzerland! Of course, there was some “romance de Paris” for the occasion (e.g., the tango ‘Griseta’ was one of the songs they played!). 

With many local tango dancers attending, to add to the ambience of the night, DJ @cruz.fierro handpicked tango tandas to keep the dancing going between live music sets and transport the audience from Buenos Aires to Paris.
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#tango #tangoargentino #argentinetango #tangoevent #intercultural #specialevents #onenightonly #milonganight #livemusic #bandoneon #piano #duo #tangodancer #berkeley #bayareatango #sflovestango
For those who’ve missed Milonga Génesis this pa For those who’ve missed Milonga Génesis this past Friday, we hope you enjoy the performance highlights by @mariabelen_sebastian.tango 🔥

✨SEBASTIAN JIMENEZ✨ @sebastianjimeneztango is a renowned tango dancer and from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has won multiple awards, including the World Tango Championship in 2010, and has performed at prestigious events and festivals around the world. Jimenez is also a respected tango instructor and has taught workshops and master classes in several countries. He has had a significant impact on the world of tango, both as a performer and as a teacher.

✨MARIA BELEN GIACHELLO✨@mariabelengiachello is born in Argentina and now a tango teacher and singer based in Toulouse, France. With 30 years of combined experience in tango, training, performing and teaching, she has travelled to many beautiful places around the world showing her art.
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@pabloinza and @sofi_saborido are no strangers to @pabloinza and @sofi_saborido are no strangers to the SF tango community! 💕 For a few years now, we've enjoyed having them around every summer.😎 Thanks @junicorn_33 for bringing them here.

Enjoy snippets of their beautiful performances last Saturday at Vecher Tango at the Russian Center 📸✨ and don't miss the last class of their visit this year TONIGHT before the milonga at @el_valenciano1153, hosted by @tangosabor !
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✨ Vecher Tango at the Russian Center had another ✨ Vecher Tango at the Russian Center had another star-struck night!✨

@ariadnayfernando returned to San Francisco after their last visit in 2016 for @noras_tango_week.

On top of teaching all afternoon and performing four songs of their choice, they surprised us with an improvised encore to live music by Seth Asarnow (@sethasarnow on piano) and Adrian Jost (@fueyequerido on bandoneón), a first-time collaboration for the four artists altogether!! 👏👏♥️♥️🙌🙌 ¡Qué celebración del Tango!

Thank you Julia Schiptsova @juliasch999 and Davood Yazdani for bringing @ariadnanaveira and @fernet_sanz back to SF! We look forward to welcoming them back later this year in Thanksgiving. Stay tuned for details.

Check out our stories for video snippets from the amazing evening!
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REPOSTING… because how could one resist missing REPOSTING… because how could one resist missing the standing ovation *and* an encore because earlier post got cut off due to unknown glitch🙈… Second half of part 1️⃣ the highlights from an amazing night at @thetangodome with Duo 🎸🎸 @juanvillarreal_13 and @patriciocrom ! And our very own @scottodaymusic made it a guitar trio for the encore! 
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❤️‍🔥DJ @lebendiguna DROPS THE NEEDLE with ❤️‍🔥DJ @lebendiguna DROPS THE NEEDLE with the world’s fastest learning curve!❤️‍🔥

When Una’s laptop unexpectedly failed to connect to @thetangodome sound system, Daniel Peter’s vinyl collection and on-the-spot knowledge transfer to the rescue!! 😮🔥🧯❤️ After watching Dan just a few times dropping the needle between tracks, Una hit the track her FIRST TIME trying‼️✌️

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